Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology

The Raymond M. Alf Award for Excellence in Paleontological Research and Education honors a paleontologist who exhibits excellence both in original scientific research as well as in education and outreach at the primary and secondary school (K-12) levels. Nominations are due by March 31.

A fossil skull small enough to fit in the palm of your hand represents the oldest species of horned dinosaur named from North America. The discovery, announced by a multi-institution team including the Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology at The Webb Schools, is 40 million years older than the iconic Triceratops.

Wildlife in the Tropical Forests of Prehistoric California

Wednesday, 12 February 2014 09:10
Andrew Farke

Sixty million years ago, the Mojave Desert of southern California was blanketed by a lush tropical forest. Where desert tortoises and sidewinders now roam, early mammals thrived alongside crocodiles and river turtles on a coastal plain. For decades, fewer than a dozen fragmentary fossils were known. Thanks to hundreds of new specimens uncovered by the Alf Museum, our picture of this ancient world is now much clearer. A scientific paper, just published in the journal American Museum Novitates, details 18 kinds of fossil mammals from this time, three of them completely new to science. These include California’s oldest primate as well as relatives of modern hoofed mammals.

An Ancient Alligator for the Alf Museum

Monday, 03 February 2014 22:00
Andrew Farke

Ancient Utah was even more infested by crocodilians than thought, thanks to a new discovery announced by the Alf Museum. This 75 million year old partial skeleton turns out to be from an early alligator called Leidyosuchus, which had previously only been known from rocks of a similar age in Alberta. With this find, scientists have identified a whopping six different kinds of ancient crocs living in southern Utah at the same time!